Brian Harman’s second swing on the 10th hole of the Stadium Course looked good. He finished about 10 yards away. He had a birdie look.
Then the people looked closer.
Wrong ball.
He had hit someone else.
Analyst Curt Byrum said on the Golf Channel broadcast: “My goodness.”
Analyst Billy Ray Brown said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that event happen. That’s a big mistake.”
Analyst Smylie Kaufman said: “It’s the worst feeling in the world.”
Ultimately, the misstep on Thursday during the first round of the American Express event led to a two-stroke penalty. On Harman’s fourth shot – from the ball’s original spot – his ball hit the rocks to the left of the green and fell onto the green, and he two-putted for a double bogey.
To be clear, here is the wording of it Rule 6.3c (1) that describes what happens when a wrong ball is played:
“In stroke play, the player incurs the general penalty (two penalty strokes) and must correct the error by continuing play with the original ball, by playing it as it lies, or by taking relief in accordance with the rules. The stroke made with the wrong ball and any additional strokes before the error is corrected (including strokes made and any additional penalty strokes solely by playing that ball) do not count. If the player does not correct the error before taking a stroke to start another hole or, before the last hole of the round, before returning his score card, the player is obliged to correct the error.”
So whose ball did Harman hit?
According to the Golf Channel broadcast, it was not playing partner Max Homa’s ball – he had hit his second shot on the hole before Harman – but it was an amateur ball. This week the pros will be paired with the ams for three rounds. There were theories about how the mistake happened.
“Well, certainly every time you play a round of golf,” Kaufman said on the air, “you’re comparing golf balls primarily to the guys you’re playing with in your group. For the most part, the amateurs are always on the tee-up, so you’re comparing your golf ball to, say, Brian Harman was going to show Max Homa his ball today. But you really don’t walk up to the amateur tee and compare your golf ball.”
“So they could have had similar markings; we don’t really know for sure. It could have been the same number. But still, it’s the job of the person hitting the ball to know that this is their golf ball. Very unfortunate.”
Notably, Harman made a mark on his white Titleist ball with a black Sharpie.
Byrum said during the broadcast, “I mean, that ball is marked right. … It shouldn’t be logged in.”
Kaufman said, “That had to be it: the logo was gone, and they got there and realized they hit the wrong ball.”
Said Byrum: “Oh my god.”
Instances where the rule would apply are rare. (A similar incident occurred at last year’s Sentry event, where Cam Davis and Will Zalatoris were penalized.) On Thursday, after Harman completed the hole, he tried to make sure he wouldn’t make the mistake again.
He marked his ball again.
Then he tossed his Sharpie into his golf bag.
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